History

Our Chapter History

The idea to form the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles was generated from an article in the TRW Company Newsletter.  Los Angeles sales representative Michael Lewis was waiting for his meeting to begin when he read the article about a charity in Phoenix, Arizona that was doing wonderful things for sick children.

He rushed home and gathered together a group who began working with the Phoenix office to set up a chapter in the Greater Los Angeles area, which was incorporated as the 15th chapter in the national network in 1983.

In that first year, 12 wishes were granted, including 11-year-old Gary's wish for a VCR of his own.  Volunteers presented the new VCR and one year of complimentary video rentals to him while he was still in the hospital. His smile became the first of many for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater Los Angeles.    

Our National History

The group that Mike Lewis worked with in Phoenix became the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, our national organization.

In 1980, Chris Greicius was a 7-year-old boy being treated for leukemia. Whenever he saw a police officer, he saw everything he wanted to be. Law enforcement officers heard about Chris' wish to be a police officer and responded to the call. A police helicopter flew him to headquarters for a tour, a ride in a patrol car and a ceremony making him the first-ever honorary state patrolman in Arizona history. They also presented him a custom-tailored uniform, motorcycle helmet, campaign hat and the motorcycle wings he earned on his own battery-powered bike. Many of those responsible for fulfilling Chris' wish wanted to do the same for other children with life-threatening medical conditions and founded the Make-A-Wish Foundation in November 1980. Read more details about Chris' story.